noun
Dioscorea tokoro (species of wild yam)
Archaic name for a specific wild yam species; now primarily encountered in historical or botanical texts. The plant is more commonly referred to as 野老 (ところ) in modern contexts.
See also: 野老
古い本草書には「野老葛」の名が見られる。
The name 野老葛 appears in old herbal texts.
Modern common name for the same plant; 野老葛 is an archaic extended form.
The derivation is uncertain; the kanji 野老 ('old man of the field') and 葛 ('arrowroot/vine') are conventionally associated with this wild yam species.